Wednesday July 5, 2006
By Alastair Sloane
New Zealand motocross champion Katherine Prumm had her fingers crossed before her world title race in Sweden on Sunday.
It was something she was unable to do a couple of weeks ago - because her right hand was in a plaster cast.
She took her Kawasaki KX250F into the fray against some of the best motocross women on the planet, in the final round of the women's world championships at Uddevalla.
And the 18-year-old teenager from Bombay emerged victorious to win the women's World Cup.
It was a remarkable achievement after Prumm broke her hand competing in the United States just six weeks ago.
She finished 2-1 in Sweden to back up her win at the series opener and stamp her authority on the two-round series.
Race one saw Prumm fight her way from fifth early on in the race to third place with two laps to go. She passed French rival Livia Lancelot to finish second behind German star Stephanie Laier.
"In race two she came out with all guns blazing," says New Zealand team manager Mike Ramsey.
"Katherine started well and, by the end of the first lap was in third place, just behind her main rivals.
"On lap three she made her move, passing Laier and then moving into the lead after pressuring Lancelot.
"From there she consolidated her lead, finishing 10 seconds ahead of Laier."
Prumm had settled in well during the practice and qualifying sessions the day before, quickly coming to grips with the track layout and posting the third fastest time in her timed practice session behind Lancelot and Laier.
Tied on points with Lancelot but leading the championship after the first round in Germany in early May, she was able to carry the prestigious red front number plate in the final round.
Prumm will have the No.1 on her Kawasaki when she defends her title next season.
The hand injury not only weakened her grip on the bike but also prevented her from training.
"That was the toughest part of my season - actually overcoming my injury was a big effort and this win is something I have worked so hard for," said Prumm.
The injury happened during the second round of the US women's championships, on May 20 in California.
Prumm had won the first two races but crashed in the third after a lapped rider changed line mid-air on a jump. Prumm's hand took the brunt of a blow.
"Two bones in my right hand were snapped - 100 per cent displaced," she said.
She had an operation to insert two metal plates and nine screws into her right hand.
The plaster cast was removed a couple of weeks ago and, soon afterwards, Prumm flew to Sweden to prepare for the title clash.
"I didn't want to be sitting at home and watching everyone overtake me on the points when I knew I could be winning," she said.